Donald Trump Criticizes Los Angeles Wildfire Response, Labels Officials "Incompetent"

Washington DC [US], January 13, 2025: US President-elect Donald Trump has sharply criticized officials managing the Los Angeles wildfires, calling them "incompetent" and expressing frustration over their inability to control the ongoing disaster.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump described the wildfires as one of the worst catastrophes in US history, highlighting the extensive destruction and loss of life. He wrote, "The fires are still raging in L.A. The incompetent pols have no idea how to put them out. Thousands of magnificent houses are gone, and many more will soon be lost. There is death all over the place. They just can't put out the fires. What's wrong with them?"

The wildfires have claimed at least 16 lives and displaced nearly 200,000 people, according to reports. Entire neighborhoods have been reduced to ashes, with 10,000 structures destroyed. Among the fires, the Palisades fire has caused the most destruction, burning nearly 20,000 acres of land, followed by the Eaton fire (13,690 acres) and Kenneth fire (959 acres). In total, over 35,000 acres, an area roughly 2.5 times the size of Manhattan, have been scorched.

California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed the crisis, urging residents to be cautious of misinformation surrounding the wildfires. In a post on X, he stated, "A lot of misinformation out there. Just launched a new site to ensure the public has access to fact-based data around the Southern CA wildfires. The TRUTH: - CA did NOT cut our firefighting budget. We have nearly doubled the size of our firefighting army and built the world's largest aerial firefighting fleet. - CA has INCREASED forest management ten-fold since we took office. - California will NOT allow for looting."

The wildfires continue to wreak havoc, with emergency crews battling tirelessly to contain the blazes.